Retiring captain John Smit has let slip a glimpse of South African anger at referee Bryce Lawrence’s performance in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss to Australia.
“I suppose that one of the positives going forward is that I will never have to be reffed by Bryce Lawrence again,” Smit told media when the team arrived home in Johannesburg.
The defending champion Springboks lost 11-9 to the Wallabies on Sunday despite overwhelming dominance of possession and territory.
There was widespread anger in South Africa media about New Zealand whistleblower Lawrence’s control of the breakdown area of the game, where Wallabies scavenger David Pocock was able to secure several crucial turnovers to shut down South African attacks.
Springboks coach Peter De Villiers declined to be drawn into criticising Lawrence.
“I have made peace with the refereeing of Bryce Lawrence,” was the surprisingly terse and mild comment from a coach who has courted controversy during his Springbok career for outspoken comments and sometimes bizarre claims.
“We did not achieve what we wanted to. We gave you (supporters) a lot of hope when we left for New Zealand.
“We never fulfilled our own dreams and we never fulfilled yours,” said a visibly emotional De Villiers as he battled to hold back tears.
“We let you down. But we never did it on purpose. We went down fighting, fighting for our country, and that’s what made me proud.”
The coach said he had not formally resigned his role, but his contract is not expected to be renewed when it expires in December.
“The writing is on the wall. We read it and we move on,” he said.
Capped a record 111 times by South Africa, 33-year-old Smit will end his career with a stint at English club Saracens, while lock great Victor Matfield, 34, will retire from all rugby.
“There are great years ahead for the Springboks,” said Smit.
“There are some brilliant players available for selection and those who fill the boots of the ‘old guard’ will make a huge difference. I think the future is strong.”
Surrounded by two young daughters, Matfield described his 110-cap Springbok career as “fantastic”.
“I had an unbelievable journey, achieved a lot, went through some hard times, but enjoyed every second of it.”
Behind Enemy Lines
Guest
EG, my apologies. Just realised you are talking about the Aussie try where Pocock did legally use his feet to send the ball out of he ruck. I was talking about the Boks raid on our line where Burger was turned over.
jameswm
Guest
Hypocrites? Lawrence was awful in both games.
Behind Enemy Lines
Guest
The angles were terrible. I had to watch it about 10 times in slow motion to figure out who it was. I did that for almost every ruck in the game where the ball didn't come out immediately and it was pretty clear that Pocock was within the laws for most of the game. Take a look at where he positions himself next to the guy who is about to make a tackle and then makes sure he's straight on the ball once the tackle is made. Amazing to watch.
mattamkII
Guest
fair point
mattamkII
Guest
exactly! Both Berger and Brussow dont control themselves at the breadown and don't form a proper ruck. Similar goes for another of Pococks turn overs people keep going on about.
JJ
Guest
Agree 100%...that was not a slam...a slam is what the Uk press have been on about this past week and one of their very own reporters wrote in The Australian. Not many Captains in world rugby would care about seeing Bryce Lawrence on the field ever again...and just last week from reading all these blogs not many Australians wanted to see him either. These same hypocrits blamed him for their loss to Ireland. Funny stuff.
Josh
Guest
The headline epitomises the Aussie attitude. He never 'slammed' anybody - it was a rueful smiling little joke. And treated as such by all who were present. Trouble with Smit was that he was always too polite to the refs - not hard and demanding like McCaw, for example. So the poor refs such as Lawrence and Walsh paid no attention. Aside from the Oz supporters no one seriously doubts which side came off 2nd best by the ref. Grow up boys or are you part of the Siros Soputh African Fan Club?
WQ
Guest
Suck it up South Africa. I don't remember to many South Africans feeling to sorry for the AB's being taken out of the 2007 World Cup as a result of poor Reffing!
peterlala
Guest
Smit should be applauded for telling the truth. Bryce Lawrence was a poor referee. Irrespective of the result, the two teams deserve better after all their hard work. As do the two nations that support them. Given the importance of these games, the standards required of referees should be higher. The man who runs the referees shouldn't.
El Gamba
Guest
BEL, pretty sure it was a kick through from Pocock that loosened the ball. The actual camera angles were pretty bad the whole game though (I think the JDV pass looked less forward than it was because of it but they didn't show any other angle on a lot of things - very poor camera work for a RWC overall I thought), I'll have another look. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Behind Enemy Lines
Guest
EG, It was Elsom that turned over the ball from Burger on the line. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
AussieKiwi
Guest
The Springboks definitely had the worst of a poor refereeing perfornance IMHO. However they still had ample opportunity and should have won the game. That's probably what hurts more than the refereeing. It is a shame that Smit has ended his international career on this sour note, attacking the referee after the game is generally pointless and poor form. Plenty of armchair critics to do that, its not appropriate for the captains. Smit is usually very classy in defeat. I suppose given the huge disappointment of losing a match that should have been won (the worst type of loss), one can forgive him. But as Martin Johnson said, after England lost, It's hugely disappointing, but this is how it ends for all the teams but one!
El Gamba
Guest
I'd expect better from Smit. SA lost the game, not Lawrence. Nid, watch the try again. Broussow dives straight off his feet and leaves Burger vulnerable. Pocock was on-side as Broussow was not part of the ruck. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
niwdEyaJ
Guest
sour grapes. i've watched the game a few times now and there were horrendous decisions that went BOTH ways. for the record, THAT pass WAS forward - even Piennaar agreed and the TV wizards even drew some lines across the screen to prove it and Samo was interfered with at the lineout in the 72nd minute - Matfield pulled his left arm down after he'd taken the ball and Russow lifted his right leg. Kudos to JOC for slotting that pressure penalty that ultimately won the game. SA do have every right to be p*ssed that Lawrence didn't pick up on any of the high-ish tackles of the Wallabies - there should have been a warning at some point at the very least. And the Wallabies were definitely off-side when Burger got turned over right on the Wallabies line in the 20th minute. Pocock pushed the laws to the edge but that's his job - no different to what McCaw does every game. It's not cheating, it's called playing to the referee. Just the same way the South Africans charged into virtually every ruck off their feet and won a considerable number of turnovers with illegal play. No wonder the Wallabies secured stuff-all ball the whole game.